LeBron James was furious about the foul called against the Minnesota Lynx in the closing seconds of Game 5 of the WNBA Finals. James noted on X that the call, which even underwent an unsuccessful review from the Lynx, was wrong and a foul call like that can dictate the result of what had been a tight battle up until that point.
"I’m sorry but that wasn’t a foul! Let the damn players dictate the outcome of a close battled-tested game."
The foul that James is referring to occurred with seconds left on the clock when the Timberwolves had a 2-point lead over the Liberty. Breanna Stewart drove to the basket, only to pull back and shoot. The referees saw contact made with her arm, prompting them to give the Liberty star two free throws.
The Lynx unsuccessfully challenged the call, as the refs didn't see incontrovertible proof of clean contact to overturn the decision. The Liberty received two free throws, which Stewart made to tie the game and force overtime, where they secured the win over the Lynx.
Many Lynx fans will echo LeBron's sentiments, as that foul call changed not just the complexion of the game, but the outcome of the entire series. In such a close-fought series that came down to the wire in Game 5, a referee's decision played a massive role in the outcome.
Liberty fans will not be too concerned and argue that the referees made the right call to award the foul. With close calls like these, especially in what had been up to that point a very physical game, it can go either way, and both teams have to make their peace with calls going for or against them on any given night.
Lynx Coach Echoes James' Comments
Cheryl Reeve, the head coach of the Minnesota Lynx, seemed to agree with LeBron James' complaints, as she spoke after the game about how the foul call and the challenge were handled very poorly by the referees and advocated for a change in the review process going forward.
"It's a shame that officiating had such a hand in a series like this... I thought today was incredibly disappointing. The challenge, we have got to change our challenge rules... That was not a foul. That call should have been reversed, on that challenge."
The Lynx have good reason to be upset about the call. But at the same time, their critics will argue that they could have used the missed call as motivation heading into overtime and sealed the win there. While it would still have been unfair, the Lynx would have been far less vocal about the decision had they walked away the winners.
This ensuing controversy will continue, and in the coming days, we will hear more opinions, positive or negative. For the time being, the Liberty will continue their celebrations with no concerns, while the Lynx will struggle to get some sleep tonight.
Related: Instant Analysis: Liberty Win WNBA Championship Despite Off Night For Sabrina Ionescu And Breanna Stewart
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